French President divorces wife

A French news agency reported Saturday that President Francois Hollande has ended his relationship with his companion of seven years, Valerie Trierweiler.

Agence France Presse reported that Hollande said in a telephone conversation with the news agency Saturday evening that “I make it known that I have put an end” to the relationship with Trierweiler, who was the country’s first lady, two weeks after a tabloid report that Hollande was having an affair with a French actress.

A presidential aide who request anonymity to discuss private matters confirmed that the president had called AFP to announce the relationship’s end.

Hollande told the news agency that he was speaking in a personal capacity and not as head of state.

Hollande has four children with former presidential candidate Segolene Royal. He and Trierweiler have lived together since 2007, and while they’re unmarried, Trierweiler occupied the so-called “madame wing” of the presidential palace, traveled abroad with Hollande and functioned as the first lady.